Pump, Water

Object Name:

Pump, Water

Object ID:

2009.039.05

Creator:

Smith, D. B. & CompanyManufacturer

Place of Origin:

Utica, NY

Date:

circa 1950

Description:

"Indian" brand backpack fire pump, used by Kenneth L. Allen of Rochester, NH, to fight forest fires. Manufactured by D. B. Smith & Company, Utica, NY. Brass tank, oval in cross section. Metal screw cap on top, 4.5" diam., painted red, with embossed lettering: "D. B. SMITH & COMPANY / INDIAN / PATENTED / UTICA, N.Y. U.S.A."; and "AIR VENT / KEEP OPEN", with arrow pointing to small hole in center. Brass chain connecting cap to mouth. Perforated brass back with raised lettering at top: "AIR / CONDITIONED / PATENTED / TANK". Large embossed lettering on bottom: "D. B. SMITH & COMPANY / INDIAN / UTICA. NEW YORK. U.S.A." Piston-type cylindrical brass hand pump with black painted wooden handle, connected to tank with black rubber hose. Handle has two brass ferrules, each stamped "D.B. SMITH & CO., UTICA, N.Y." Removable threaded cast brass nozzle on end of handle, with two conical spouts, one with large hole, and one with two small holes; nozzle connected to handle with beaded brass chain. Pump rests on brass holder on top of tank. Two cotton canvas webbing straps attached to back.

Material:

Metal
Brass
Textile
Cotton

Dimensions:

H-18 W-33 D-7.5 inches

Provenance:

Used by Kenneth L. Allen (1916-2002) of Rochester, NH, to fight forest fires.

Established in the early 1920s by Leroy E. Allen (1884-1956) of Dudley, MA, Allen & Hall were contract lumber dealers and manufacturers who moved to Rochester, NH. The business was eventually taken over by Leroy Allen's son, Kenneth L. Allen, around 1950. The company purchased trees on private lots, cut the timber, and contracted to make lumber into crates and boxes for product packaging and shipping. They also operated a commercial lumber yard on Allen Street in Rochester.

Credit Line:

Gift of Ann Lindner

Subjects:

Forest fires, Fire fighters, Fire fighting, Fire fighting equipment, Forest fires